[Vision2020] Dorman Does Washington (D.C. that is)

[Sue Hovey]

Just how is she, "one of our own?"   Not mine, I think.

Sue
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J Ford" <privatejf32 at hotmail.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:15 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Dorman Does Washington (D.C. that is)


>A friend of mine just sent me this...another story of one of our own doing
> good:
>
> Justices review case of union money use
>
> WARDEN -- When Angie Dorman traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch a
> U.S. Supreme Court hearing affecting non-union workers, the justices
> seemed to have her best interest in mind.
>
> Dorman, a social studies teacher at Warden High School, attended a hearing
> for Washington versus Washington Education Association Jan. 10.
>
> The case stems from a 1992 voter-approved initiative specifying unions
> must receive permission from non-union employees before spending their
> fees on political action. The education association appealed to the
> Washington Supreme Court, which overturned the initiative. The U.S.
> Supreme Court heard the case on Jan. 10. A decision could be made in May
> or June:
>
> Non-union employees must
> currently opt-out if they do not
> want their fees to go toward
> political causes.
> "I think that the decision is going
> to come against the (Washington
> Education Association), and I think
> that the Washington state
> Supreme Court's (ruling is) going
> to be overturned, but you know, I
> don't know," Dorman said. "But in
> that sense, I trust the justices
> whichever way it turns out."
>
> Dorman said the Evergreen
> Freedom Foundation paid for her
> trip through a grant, and she was
> not required to do anything for the
> organization in return. The group is
> supporting the U.S. Supreme Court
> appeal.
>
> She said she made certain before accepting the money her free
> speech rights would not be affected.
>
> "I always speak my mind," she said.
>
> Dorman said the issue before the court is one of campaign reform and First
> Amendment rights.
>
> Washington Education Association President Charles Hasse said when
> Initiative 134 first passed in 1992, the education association tried to
> follow
> the new law, but it was vague and poorly written. The law did not clearly
> define what constituted a political purpose, Hasse said.
>
> Some argue the case is about individuals being forced to contribute to
> political causes against their will, he said.
>
> "The state Supreme Court found that there is no evidence or argument that
> people are being compelled against their will," he said.
>
> Hasse noted teachers have no choice but to contribute to the state's
> retirement system.
>
> "That money is invested in the private sector," he said. "I can't opt out,
> let
> alone have an opt-in provision for their political spending. So we're
> saying,
> 'look, you've got to treat everybody the same.'"
>
> If the education association loses, Hasse said he is confident the case
> would
> go back to the state Supreme Court to work out the technical details.
> The U.S. Supreme Court is not known to be union-friendly, he said.
>
> "On the other hand, we were very pleased that they didn't seem to have any
> interest in the arguments that were made by some that this case was about
> more than the technical issues involving somewhere between 3,000 and
> 4,000 agency fee payers of the Washington Education Association," Hasse
> said.
>
> Northwest Professional Educators Association Executive Director Cindy 
> Omlin
> said the initiative is intended to support the First Amendment rights of
> nonunion
> workers. The court justices seemed to recognize that, she said.
>
> "It was remarkably favorable for the protection of the civil liberties of
> nonunion
> individual workers," Omlin said.
>
> The association is a non-union educator organization of which Dorman is a
> member.
>
> Dorman said the trip to Washington D.C. was once-in-a-lifetime. Walking
> into the courtroom, she thought about all the important cases heard in the
> same room, including Brown versus Board of Education.  She said she is
> interested
> to hear any justice opinions siding with the education association.
>
>
>
>
> J  :]
>
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